The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "handouts" ...
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Federal Government Propaganda
The series began with the breaking news that the Bush administration paid pundit Armstrong Williams $240,000 to endorse its "No Child Left Behind" education law. The authors extended their investigation to look at how the government spends millions of dollars in taxpayer money to secretly sell America on a few of its most controversial policies.
Tags: Federal government; handouts; No Child Left Behind; education; FOIA; propaganda; Education Department
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Handouts for the Homeland
The 60 Minutes team investigated how different localities spent Homeland Security grant money. They found numerous instances of frivolous or questionable purchases, ranging from bulletproof dog vests to garbage trucks. Congress overhauled the Homeland Security dispersal system shortly after the story aired.
Tags: None
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The Miracle Merchants
For nearly two years, Chicago Tribune reporters sponsored more than a dozen children in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In May of 1997, eight reporters set off in search of those children. Eventually, all were found-except for one girl who had been dead for most of the time she was sponsored. Although a few of the other children received periodic handouts-often ill-fitting clothing and shoes, bars of soap, cheap cooking pots-several got next-to-nothing. In no case was any child's life changed, several of the children were even unaware they had been sponsored.
Tags: abuse; poverty; non-profit; charities; benefits
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Divided We Sprawl
The Kansas City Star conducted a six-part series that examined the character and cost of urban sprawl. The investigation reveals that sprawl feeds on racism and government handouts and sparks development wars between cities, which eventually leads to sucking the life out of a community's spirit.
Tags: Racism; Poverty; Suburbs; Inner-city; City government
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No title (id: 12567)
The Philadelphia Inquirer investigates the multi-billion committment by the federal government of federal tax dollars in the form of technology subsidies to U.S. companies and the failure of those programs. Over the past 15 years, Congress and the White House funded an estimated $6 million every year to create more than 50 programs to aid high-tech companies. (June 4 - 10, 1995)
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Who's Protecting Whom
A computer-assisted investigation reveals a shocking pattern of lax enforcement at the agency charged with protecting worker safety.Multiple examples show that OSHA is reducing fines 99% of the time, collecting only 33 cents on the dollar. The story of Patrick Hayes, killed in a corn silo, was chosen to highlight how OSHA can save on fines and criminal prosecutions, despite findings of deliberate violations of worker safety. (Aug. 1, 1995) See Handout entry #479 for more information on Hayes case and FOIA problems encountered.
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High-Tech Handouts
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that "The government is propping up American corporations by subsidizing their research and development. The promise is high-paying jobs. The payoff so far is pork, politics and giveaways to big business."
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"Inside a Sioux Reservation: Villages of Despair. Injustice at Rosebud"
This three-part series paints a vivid portrait of the struggling inhabitants of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, a community decimated by alcoholism, crime and crumbling social institutions, despite $7 million annual handouts from the federal government.